I was there that day . I was on the barrier getting crushed . So much so that I lost feeling to my legs and they had to pull me over the barrier . Once over the barrier I collapsed and they had to drag me to the side.
Yo why the fuck do you okay playing a song with that happening in the crowd. Jesus you are bigger than god at that point, let the security get everyone over the front rail. People are on the ground.
It almost seems counterproductive to stop playing - that only makes the crowd even more restless. Remember the saying about music soothing the savage beast.
easily one of the best videos on the site. Anthony's commentary, half the crowd singing the chorus while the other half beats the shit out of each other, the song choice at a moment like that, John's teasing, "push me up against the wall", the list goes on LMAO
The people managing the big day out are to blame for it. You can’t put that many people in a small space and expect it not to go badly. If only they had learned from this as a girl died there a year later.
After pleading with the crowd to settle down I believe had I have been in Anthony's position I would have said, "Alright, if you guys are going to act like this then we are leaving the stage and when all of you calm down, stop the pushing, fighting and violence then we will come back out and finish the show." Then I'd have ushered myself and my bandmates off of the stage and waited. If the violence had subsided then we would've come back and finished the set. If it escalated then we would get on the bus to the airport and let the police handle it.... I have been to many, many, many big rock concerts and festivals and have witnessed people doing some really mean things to one another just because they couldn't handle themselves with a little alcohol and live music. Concerts can be very dangerous places. It has always bothered me when I would go to say a Godsmack, KoRn, Rob Zombie or Megadeth concert and see people with their small children there in the crowd. A potential powder keg of the worst humanity can treat one another and people would put their small children in the middle of a situation like that? Hmmmmmmm............
Being on the fence at this festival was awesome. At one stage I thought I was going to be squeezed through the fence like spaghetti but it was worth it
Festivals are dangerous, man. If they weren’t careful, they could’ve ended up like Pearl Jam at Roskilde the same year. God, how devastating it must be to be in that situation and know there’s little to nothing you can do to truly prevent anything bad. You can try to calm the crowds down, but it’s up to them to listen.
Californians know how to calm shit down. Not only that, these guys experienced this shit long before they got famous, and in crazier environments.. Probably know exactly what and what not to do.
i remember this like it was yesterday, was only 9yo and standing at the very front, ppl started to push foward and my dad put me over his shoulders until some security guy pick me up to stay at the other side of the fence to keep me safe. Chad offered me a bottle of water, it made me stop crying.
Overselling and cramming in as many people as they can for $$$$… You can just look at the crowd and see the dangers in packing so many drunk people in so tightly… sad.
